Typically inmate wages go towards victim relief funds and restitution. A smaller portion is usable towards canteen purchases. The likelihood of a few cents being left over upon release is highly unlikely unless they've been down for many, many years and have somehow managed to pay all of their fines.It is interesting to note that very few cities/states where the original offense occurred have methods in place whereby a released inmate can pay the balance of their fines/restitution.
Even though it's owed, they never expect to see the money so even when the parolee makes an attempt to settle their debt there's no paperwork in place allowing them to do it. I can attest to how satisfying it is to see the surprised looks on the Sheriff's faces when someone insists on paying anyway. Usually ending up in a handwritten receipt attached to the arrest record and court documents (which they have to look up).
Try getting a piece of paper saying you tried to pay and they told you to "just forget it, no one pays those". It's fun watching them scramble for an answer. When an inmate is turned over to a State facility (for example) they are required to sign a "body receipt" acknowledging their arrival at the facility.
See if you can get a copy of that and read it in detail sometime. You've essentially signed over yourself to the State. When you're released, try getting them to "give you your body back".
There is no such paperwork. So in effect you are still property of the State. Sort of like getting a court to declare you "innocent" if you are shown to be "not guilty".
Even though we're all "innocent until proven guilty" no judge or jury in the land will say so.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.